1 Dead, 3 Injured in Vehicle vs Buggy Crash

A Christmas night motor vehicle vs horse drawn buggy crash was fatal. Vernon County Sheriff Roy Torgerson reports the crash occurred Wednesday evening (December 25) around 6:00 on State Highway 82, near Pine Avenue, rural Hillsboro, in the Town of Union.

Lydia E. M. Thompson, 22 of rural Sparta, and Jaydon Alan Shea, 20 of La Farge, were the occupants of a passenger car traveling east on State Highway 82. The vehicle struck a westbound buggy head-on, in the westbound lane, on a curve. Henry F. Bontrager, and Ruth J. Bontrager, both 29 of rural Hillsboro, occupied the horse-drawn buggy and were both ejected from the buggy which came to rest in the roadway. The passenger car went off the north side of the roadway and traveled down an embankment where it came to rest. Several concerned citizens stopped to render aid and protect the scene until emergency personnel arrived.

Lydia Thompson, Jaydon Shea, and Ruth Bontrager were transported to Gundersen St. Joseph’s Hospital in Hillsboro by La Farge Area Ambulance. Henry Bontrager was pronounced dead at the scene by Vernon County Coroner Betty Nigh. Ruth Bontrager was later transferred to Gundersen Health System in La Crosse. The horse also died due to the crash.

Also assisting the Sheriff’s Office at the scene were the La Farge Fire Department, Wisconsin State Patrol Technical Reconstruction Unit, and the Town of Union. Gundersen Air was also

requested but were unable to fly due to weather conditions.

Highway 82 at the crash scene was closed for about six hours.